[lapis_lazuli]

Originally Posted by KarthikK

Front suspension noise? If it was accompanied by a thud sound, it could be related to the link rod (common complaint in some older Puntos). Get it checked and rectified at the service centre next time you pass by that place.

There is no thud sound, just the squeak. Worst, sometimes it feels like it is coming from the driver seat. I can't fully make out. But seems like from the suspension setup side. For sure will take ot to the ASS. The rattles are masked if windoes are open. It is audible if all windows are rolled up and AC running in 2, and no music playing. So I guess will live with it.

[hemanth.anand]

Originally Posted by lapis_lazuli

But why "filtering element"? What is "filtering" element for?? Is it the wire mesh filter for the ac blower? And Hemanth, I am plagued by zillions of rattles and squeaks, what about you? The latest one is a slightly delayed squeak from the front right, each time I go over a bump very slowly. The squeak does not come immediate but may be 0.25 seconds after I have crossed the bump, like the effect was travelling from the place of occurence. Any pointers?

lapis_lazuli, after every 15k kms, as per the user manual, we need to replace 4 filters- Oil filter, air filter, fuel filter and pollen filter.
So the "filtering element" is basically a pollen filter.
It was mentioned as "wire mesh filter" in my last service bill and now its mentioned as "filtering element". Its all the same; filter for the AC.
If I remember right, this filter design was changed by fiat and hence the prices may be different from earlier ones.

Touchwood, I don't have any squeaks in my car. The only noise I hear is a squeaky sound when I stop the vehicle with the brake pedal pressed and someone gets doen from the rear seat. It doesn't come when the brake is not pressed or when the car is held by the handbrake or when in a gear.
Technically it is not an issue.

As KarthikK has posted please get it checked by the A.S.S

Originally Posted by KarthikK

Hemanth, thanks for the detailed service report as always. Any pictures of the painted roof for potential copycats like me to get inspired?? I still need to get that steering logo up and running by the way, hopefully this week sometime.

Copycats...I'd call it a "give and take policy"
Anyways, the logos are still waiting for its rightful owner.

Actually I had uploaded a picture from my mobile camera for the last post, but then deleted it thinking that I'll put them in the Ownership report which I plan to write soon

CF vinyl is not supposed to be polished on, it will appear slightly greyish if covered with polish. This is part of the reason why I don't get my car washed/polished at the service centre.

The peeling was actually observed before the service... It was actually My boss at office who saw it first on Friday but he told this to me on Monday. So I could see the peeling only after the service.

As far as polishing goes, there was no special polish applied other than water since the day it came on my car till they did it on Saturday with some sort of white liquid.

Anyways, will see how 3M can help me here.

[UB_007]

Originally Posted by hemanth.anand

Just after an hour of giving my car for Delivery The SA Surendra called me and gave me an estimate of 8K for the service.
He told me that this is exclusive of the dent removal work and told me that he would ask the Body shop person to call me to give me an estimate.

I will try to put up an ownership report update pretty soon.

Good detailed overview on the service.
Nice to know that the service cost was well within your estimated budget or I would say much less than what you estimated.

Eager to have a look on the shining black roof.
I somehow had in mind that you would paint the roof matt finish black and not glossy.

Now coming back to the modifications, how about giving your punto’s powerhouse an elegant red cover and some chrome. Love to see some blaze under the hood too.

-UB

[hemanth.anand]

Originally Posted by UB_007

Eager to have a look on the shining black roof.
I somehow had in mind that you would paint the roof matt finish black and not glossy.

Now coming back to the modifications, how about giving your punto’s powerhouse an elegant red cover and some chrome. Love to see some blaze under the hood too.

-UB

I liked the glossy look since it gives a 'panoramic roof' look

Chrome and red under the hood...thanks for the suggestions. More than the cover I would have loved to put the tjet engine itself
Anyways I'll first complete the exteriors and then move on to the interiors.

[CliffHanger]

Hemanth, I want that LOVE thingy in my car. Please let me know how to go about.

[hemanth.anand]

Originally Posted by CliffHanger

Hemanth, I want that LOVE thingy in my car. Please let me know how to go about.

If you are talking about the evo tail lamps, please check your PM inbox and revert back.
let me tell you one thing "LOVE doesn't come cheap"

[CliffHanger]

Originally Posted by hemanth.anand

let me tell you one thing "LOVE doesn't come cheap"

For the quote above, I have first hand experience on that

Hemanth,

I saw your PM and I don't mind spending that amount if I can indeed get LOVE on the rear of my Punto. But you have said, it is a PS job. How can it be brought to life in real? Using LEDs or something like that?

[hemanth.anand]

Yesterday I had been to Vecto motors and finally got the absolut edition mud guards.
All the four including labour charges cost me INR 1068/-
I had already removed 2 of four of those ugly looking old mudflaps from the rear.


Ugly old mudflaps on the dirty car


New Absolut edition mudflap

I also wanted the driverside sunglass holder which is in linea...but punto cannot have that without any welding. So that chapter is closed

[Schoudhury]

Originally Posted by hemanth.anand

Ugly old mudflaps on the dirty car

New Absolut edition mudflap

Hemanth , I feel with these new mudflaps you will find your car getting dirty even faster then those old ones . The reason I say is because the 205 sections tyres you have in your ride . I had a real tough time with similar kind of mudflaps which maruti provides as MGA stuff ,after I switched to 195 section tyre in my car .

I feel it won't help much to keep the car clean .

Cheers

[hemanth.anand]

Originally Posted by Schoudhury

The reason I say is because the 205 sections tyres you have in your ride . I had a real tough time with similar kind of mudflaps which maruti provides as MGA stuff ,after I switched to 195 section tyre in my car .

I feel it won't help much to keep the car clean .

You are spot on Schoudhury, this is not enough for the 205 section tyres.

Even the old one was not fully able to prevent the doors from getting dirty. If you see the first picture carefully, the tyre section is slightly protruding outside the old mud flap. That difference with this new mud flap is actually a little bigger. So it'll definitely get dirty sooner than the old one.

But it is definitely better than not having one.

As far as the rear is concerned, earlier I had no mud flaps at all.
Now with this one, people coming behind me in rains will at least stop cursing me; especially on the highways.
I'm happy that I'm not causing problems to anyone else.

For me it was more about striking a balance between functionality and aesthetic aspects.

I for now have decided to visit 3M store more often, so I've got this fixed.
Let me see how it pans out, this year's monsoon is a good test for these flaps.

[johannskaria]

Nice car
Really loved reading your thread !

[hemanth.anand]

approximately one and a half months to go for my car to complete its third year and its on its expected path of 15K per year.
Today my car reached its 44K mark


and...


...the 44000 is here

[hemanth.anand]

Six 4s!
No I'm not talking about any cricket yuvraj-ish record.
Today, the september 4th, my car closed the day's account with 44444



This month end when it completes 3 years, its expected to complete 45k

[hemanth.anand]

Tomorrow is my car's 3rd anniversary
And today she reached the 45000 kms mark
Its couldn't have been easier to calculate...15k per year!


And now...


Here it is

Unlike the last two years, this time there were no balloons to celebrate but instead I took my car to the spa...what better than 3M?

I went to the new 3M car care outlet at Basavanagudi-sorry Sidhu_bangalore, I didn't have the patience to drive that long a distance!


entry...

It was 7pm but still it was accepted in for the paint sealant advanced exterior treatment.
This was my first time there and for the job card the guy there had no idea of what to write in the space given for "car model"
Only after I told him he wrote punto.

First it went for a wash in the basement...


Time for a bath

Then a round of foam bath


white on white

Then when it came to the ground floor detailing bay, this is how bad the finish was looking


swirl swirl everywhere

Then the general purpose adhesive cleaner or the GPAC as they call it and sanding and rubbing polish was applied. Windows and glasses were covered for these steps


its not a blind date

After this step the glass cleaning was done before a final round of waxing.
As far as the swirl marks...the end result was this.


swirls have almost disappeared

During the entire process, two other customers to the shop enquired if this was the new punto.
One more guy was perplexed and came to me and asked which car it was.
One other guy who came when the final waxing was done, was surprised to know that it was a 2010 model car

It was 9.30pm by the time my car rolled out and obviously I was the last and they closed for the day as soon as I left.

Overall I'll give a 4.5 out of 5 for this 3M store


A perfect birthday gift

Tomorrow my car will celebrate its birthday in the Tbhp mega meet.

The icing on the cake will be...
FOR THE FIRST TIME ON TBHP KarthikK's AND MY ABARTHS WILL MEET EACH OTHER

[kailashnj]

Wow that is really a nice way to celebrate birthday of your car. Nice write up and a very well maintained car.